Control device for controlling a power assembly

Abstract

A closed-loop control device, for closed-loop control of a power assembly including an internal combustion engine and a generator operatively connected in terms of drive to the internal combustion engine, includes: the closed-loop control device which is configured for: detecting a generator power (P G ) of the generator as a controlled variable; ascertaining a control deviation (e P ) as a difference between the generator power (P G ) which is detected and a target generator power (P target ); determining a target torque (M target ) as a manipulated variable for actuating the internal combustion engine as a function of the control deviation (e P ); using a control rule to determine the target torque (M target ); and determining the control rule used to determine the target torque (M target ) as a function of a predetermined loop gain (v P ).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A control system that includes a closed-loop control device for closed-loop control of a power assembly including an internal combustion engine and a generator operatively connected in terms of drive to the internal combustion engine, the control system comprising:
 a sensor configured for detecting a generator power (P G ) of the generator and for outputting a generator power signal associated with the generator power (P G ) that is detected; and   the closed-loop control device which is configured for:
 receiving the generator power signal from the sensor, the generator power (P G ) which is detected of the generator serving as a controlled variable; 
 ascertaining a control deviation (e P ) as a difference between the generator power (P G ) which is detected and a target generator power (P target ); 
 determining a target torque (M target ) as a manipulated variable for actuating the internal combustion engine as a function of the control deviation (e P ); 
 using a control rule to determine the target torque (M target ); and 
 determining the control rule used to determine the target torque (M target ) as a function of a predetermined loop gain (v P ); 
 being operatively connected in terms of drive with an open-loop control device in order for the open-loop control device to directly actuate the internal combustion engine; and 
 transferring the target torque (M target ) generated as the manipulated variable to the open-loop control device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The closed-loop control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the closed-loop control device is configured for adapting the control rule as a function of at least one adaptation variable, wherein the at least one adaptation variable is selected from a group consisting of the generator power (P G ) which is detected, a target torque variable, and a generator frequency (f G ). 
     
     
         3 . The closed-loop control device according to  claim 2 , wherein the closed-loop control device is configured for adapting the control rule by virtue of a proportional coefficient (k p   P ) of the control rule being determined such that a predetermined loop gain (v P ) is constant. 
     
     
         4 . The closed-loop control device according to  claim 3 , wherein the closed-loop control device is configured for determining the proportional coefficient (k p   P ) as a function of the generator power (P G ) which is detected and the target torque variable. 
     
     
         5 . The closed-loop control device according to  claim 3 , wherein the closed-loop control device is configured for determining the proportional coefficient (k p   P ) only as a function of the generator frequency (f G ). 
     
     
         6 . The closed-loop control device according to  claim 3 , wherein the closed-loop control device is configured for setting the generator frequency (f G ) to be constant in order to determine the proportional coefficient (k p   P ). 
     
     
         7 . The closed-loop control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the closed-loop control device is configured for filtering an actual power (P actual )—which is instantaneous—of the generator and to use the actual power (P actual )—which is filtered—as the generator power (P G ) which is detected. 
     
     
         8 . The closed-loop control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the closed-loop control device is formed as a generator controller. 
     
     
         9 . The closed-loop control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the closed-loop control device is formed as a generator controller with an interface to an open-loop control device of the internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         10 . The closed-loop control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the closed-loop control device does not have or produce any secondary speed control. 
     
     
         11 . The closed-loop control device according to  claim 10 , wherein the closed-loop control device does not have or produce any speed specification for the internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         12 . A closed-loop control arrangement for closed-loop control of a power assembly including an internal combustion engine and a generator operatively connected in terms of drive to the internal combustion engine, the closed-loop control arrangement comprising:
 a closed-loop control device which is formed as a generator controller, is for closed-loop control of the power assembly, and is configured for:
 detecting a generator power (P G ) of the generator as a controlled variable; 
 ascertaining a control deviation (e P ) as a difference between the generator power (P G ) which is detected and a target generator power (P target ); 
 determining a target torque (M target ) as a manipulated variable for actuating the internal combustion engine as a function of the control deviation (e P ); 
 using a control rule to determine the target torque (M target ); and 
 determining the control rule used to determine the target torque (M target ) as a function of a predetermined loop gain (v P ); and 
   an open-loop control device, which is operatively connected in terms of drive to the closed-loop control device, in order to directly actuate the internal combustion engine, the closed-loop control device being configured for transferring the target torque (M target ) generated as the manipulated variable to the open-loop control device.   
     
     
         13 . The closed-loop control arrangement according to  claim 12 , wherein the open-loop control device: (a) does not have a speed controller; (b) includes a speed controller which is deactivated; or (c) includes a final idling speed controller which is activated. 
     
     
         14 . A power assembly, comprising:
 an internal combustion engine;   a generator operatively connected in terms of drive to the internal combustion engine;   one of:
 (a) a closed-loop control device for closed-loop control of the power assembly, the closed-loop being configured for:
 detecting a generator power (P G ) of the generator as a controlled variable; 
 ascertaining a control deviation (e P ) as a difference between the generator power (P G ) which is detected and a target generator power (P target ); 
 determining a target torque (M target ) as a manipulated variable for actuating the internal combustion engine as a function of the control deviation (e P ); 
 using a control rule to determine the target torque (M target ); and 
 determining the control rule used to determine the target torque (M target ) as a function of a predetermined loop gain (v P ); and 
 
 (b) a closed-loop control arrangement for closed-loop control of the power assembly, the closed-loop control arrangement including:
 a closed-loop control device which is formed as a generator controller, is for closed-loop control of the power assembly, and is configured for:
 detecting a generator power (P G ) of the generator as a controlled variable; 
 ascertaining a control deviation (e P ) as a difference between the generator power (P G ) which is detected and a target generator power (P target ); 
 determining a target torque (M target ) as a manipulated variable for actuating the internal combustion engine as a function of the control deviation (e P ); 
 using a control rule to determine the target torque (M target ); and 
 determining the control rule used to determine the target torque (M target ) as a function of a predetermined loop gain (v P ); and 
 
 an open-loop control device, which is operatively connected in terms of drive to the closed-loop control device, in order to directly actuate the internal combustion engine, the closed-loop control device being configured for transferring the target torque (M target ) generated as the manipulated variable to the open-loop control device; 
 
 wherein the closed-loop control device or the closed-loop control arrangement is operatively connected to the internal combustion engine and the generator of the power assembly. 
   
     
     
         15 . A method for closed-loop control of a power assembly, the method including using a control system including a closed-loop control device, the power assembly including an internal combustion engine and a generator operatively connected in terms of drive to the internal combustion engine, the method comprising the steps of:
 detecting, by way of a sensor of the control system, a generator power (P G ) of the generator, the sensor outputting a generator power signal associated with the generator power (P G ) that is detected;   receiving, by way of the closed-loop control device of the control system, the generator power signal from the sensor, the generator power (P G ) which is detected of the generator serving as a controlled variable;   ascertaining, by way of the closed-loop control device, a control deviation (e P ) as a difference between the generator power (P G ) which is detected and a target generator power (P target );   determining, by way of the closed-loop control device, a target torque (M target ) as a manipulated variable for actuating the internal combustion engine as a function of the control deviation (e P );   using, by way of the closed-loop control device, a control rule to determine the target torque (M target );   determining, by way of the closed-loop control device, the control rule used to determine the target torque (M target ) as a function of a predetermined loop gain (v P ); and   transferring, by way of the closed-loop control device, the target torque (M target ) generated as the manipulated variable to an open-loop control device, the open-loop control device being operatively connected in terms of drive to the closed-loop control device in order for the open-loop control device to directly actuate the internal combustion engine.